the elephant is trunk is not just a large nose or upper lip
it is an essential and unique feature that serves many purposes for this animal
for one it is used to make many kinds of sounds
with its trunk the elephant cam communicate anger fear or happiness
the trunk is also used as if it were a kind of hand
at the end of the trunk are two muscles shaped like fingers
these muscles can pick up food and water and carry them to the elephant is mouth
elephants use their trunks to take dust baths too throwing the dust over their backs
if an elephant is trunk is seriously injured the elephant may die
without its trunk it has great difficulty getting enough to eat